Vacuum cleaner



P 5, 1939- E. L. SCHELLENS 2,172,180

VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l ///w 0 O /0 76-W x INVENTOR,

1.. ATTORNEY.

- p 5, E. L. SCHELLENS 2,172,180

VACUUI CLEANER Filed June 18, 19555 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, W

W JMQM 4; ATTORNEY.

Sept. 5, 19 a L. SCHELLENS VACUUI CLEAN! Filed me 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a saaaxcc-""" INVENT OR, fittna @ATTORNEY.

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Sept. 5, 1939. E. L. SCHELLENS VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1935 INVENTOR,

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eaaniea i se i. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE r VACUUM CLEANER Application June 18, 1935, Serial No. 27,177

13 Claims.

The present invention'relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuum cleaners of the enclosed bag type. Y

The general object ofmy invention is to im- 5 prove the construction of a vacuum cleaner of the type which is pulled around on the floor by means of a hose attached thereto. The invention is particularly directed to the vacuum cleaner unit and includes a novel shell construction of the casing and cooperating interior construction.

Cleaners of this type are constructed with a comparatively large opening through which the dust bag may be inserted and removed, and a cleaner member or cap is provided for closing this opening. Heretofore it has been the practice to connect the hose to this closure member or cap. Hence, the full pull of the hose is exerted on the cap and causes strain on the connection between the cap and the remainder of the casing. One of the objects is to obviate this and make the cap independent of the hose, which serves to pull the cleaner by connecting the hose to the cleaner proper instead of to the cap. If the cap is thus relieved of the strain 01' the hose, it can be of lighter construction, such as sheet metal, whereas with the hose connected to the cap it has usually been the custom to use a heavy die casting with stiii members for securing it to the easing, as it is very important to prevent leakage even under strain. Also, by this arrangement it is possible to locate the opening for the dust bag more advantageously with respect to the "remainder of the casing inasmuch as it is independent of the hose, and hence it is not necessary to take into consideration the direction of the pull exerted by the hose.-

A further advantage is that the dust bag may be removed for emptying without its being necessary to disconnect the suction hose.

By making the hose directly connected to the casing as distinguished from the dust bag cover opening the hose can be connected lower down with respect to the center of gravity of the unit,

thereby facilitating the pulling of the cleaner unit around on the floor and reducing its tendency to tip. Even if the hose isconnected to the casing underneath the dust bag opening, a large opening may be provided without increasing the height of the unit by forming the opening in an inclined wall. This also facilitates insertion .and

- removal of the dust bag without standing the cleaner on end.

In carrying out my invention in a preferred 5 embodiment, I divide the casing into four shell parts, namely, two lateral plate members which form the lateral walls and which are bent to form parts of the top and bottom, an end member which may be made as a on -shaped stamping and a cover which, due to the independence there- 5 of from the hose connection, can be fitted into the casing in a manner to form a complete unit made entirely out of stampings which are easily manufactured, light in weight, and may be made in practically any shape desired. 10

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for indicating when the dust separating member should be cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel handle construction for a vacuum cleaner 15 of this type.

. Still another object is to form the casing of the cleaner with outlet louvers extending horizontally across one end of the casing or along the s des thereof, or both, so that air will be 20 discharged at a low velocity. In this connection, provision is made whereby a hose or the like may be connected to the cleaner for blowing purposes and, when so connected, prevents the discharge of air through the louver openings. 25

, A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved filter having inclined surface, whereby a greater surface area is obtainable.

Also, an object of the invention is to so locate 30 a releasable fastening member that it is protected from being accidentally released and is more .-or less hidden from view by an electric plug when the latter is in position.

Further objects and advantages of the present 35 invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner in 40 accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device shown in Fi 1; 45

Fig. '4 is a cross-sectional view'on an enlarged scale taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 4, but taken on a still 50 larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a. cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-4 of Fig 5; 4

Fig 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 'I--'! or Fig 5;

Fig 8 is a bottom view of a member for' part of-the vacuum cleaner;

Fig 9 is a side view ofthe front portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig 1, but with a cover member in an open position;

Fig 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line lll|3 01' Fig 4;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 4; g

Fig. 13 .is a cross-sectional view taken on the line "-43 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a bottom view of a catch member; and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a member forming part of the casing.

As is shown in the drawings, reference character l designates generally a casing for enclosing the working parts of a vacuum cleaner. Casing I3 is made up of twoparts H and l 2, one of which is shown in perspective in Fig; 15. Each of these parts may be termed a lateral sheet plate member and comprises a sheet bent to form a side wall, and parts of the front, top and bottom-walls of the casing. These two parts are joined together along a center line as is shown at l3, by being welded or united together, or in any other suit able manner so as to form an air-tight joint. The front upper end of casing i0 is cut away, as is shown at l4 in Figs. 9 and 15', for the purpose of providing an opening for the insertion and removal of a dust bag. A cup-shaped cover member I3 is hinged to the end of the casing at IT. and when in position as shown in Fig. 1, serves to close this dust bag opening.- Casing III is formed with a flange 13 around this opening to receive the edge of cover l6 and, when the cover is closed, a smooth surface is provided.

The front lower end of rasing I0 is formed with acircular opening is, through which extends a cylindrical part 23 of an L-shaped' casting 23.

Cylindrical portion 23 is provided with internal threads 24 for receiving-the threaded end of a suction hose 23. The other end of the hose may be connected'to a cleaning tool 26. Member 23 is secured within casing ill by means ofone or more screws 21. The other leg of the L-shaped casting is formed with a rectangular opening 23, in an inclined plane,- as is clearly shown in Figs. 4, and 6.

A wall 23 of sheet metal is secured within casing l0 just behind member 23. Reference characwelding. Inclined wall ter 30 designates a member made of sheet metal and having vertical side walls 3|, a vertical front wall. 31,, and an inclined upper wall 33. The lower and rear edges of side walls are flanged outwardly so as. to extend: under flange I3 and are there se-" cured in a r tight relation to the casing ID, as by as does opening 23, and is formed with a rectangular opening 34. Casting 23. may be secured to i vertical wall 32 by means of one or more screws size and shape of the rim 3! is such that the flange thereon may be seated in the recess 43 formed in inclined wall portion 33 around the opening 34. I I

Cover member i3 is provided with a plate or the like 43 secured therein, to which is secured one end of a coil spring 44. Thetother end of spring 44 is secured to an inner cover 43. A bottom view of cover 431s shown in Fig. 8. This cover is generally dish-shaped and is formed with a large rectangular opening 46 and a small rectangular openin'g 41. Opening 46 is surrounded by a projecting bead 43 while opening 41 is surrounded by a similar bead 43. The size and shape of opening 43 is such that bead 43 will bear against the packing on the flange of rim 3! and thus force the packing tightly into the recess 40 so as to eflect an air-tight seal therebetween and secure the bag in place. The size and shape of opening 41 are such that the bead 43 bears against a packing washer 53 surrounding opening 23.

of in engagement with opening 31 formed in casing. II. A handle 53 may bemoved to the right against the force of spring 34 to release the latch.

Inasmuch as the hose is not connected to' the cover, there is no strain imposed on the latter or on its connections to the rest of the casing.

v The length of dust bag 33 is so chosen that the,

closed end thereof is received within a member 53 pivotally supported on cars 60 secured within the casing I II: The end wall 63 of member 33 is perforated so as to allow the passage of air therethrough. A leaf spring 34 is secured at one end towall 33 and bears against a perforated plate 33 which forms a guard for the inlet of fan housing 63. An arm 31 is pivotally secured at one end to the top of member 53 and'at the other end to a reciprocally mounted rack 38. Rack 33 engages pinion 33 rotatably mounted in the upper part of the casing. A cylinder is secured to pinion 63 and is visible through an air-tight window 13 formed in an indicator housing H and a channel member 13, which is secured, as by welding, to the top of casing l3. Housing 1| closes an opening 14 formed in the top of the casing.- The cylinder may be provided with colored sections or legends printed thereon, which are visible through winfdow 10 as the cylinder is rotated and hence in- 33 lies in the same plane Obviously, other means of supportingthe motor dicate the rotational position of the cylinder.

Behind opening 14 the casing is formed with a depressed-portion 13. A rigid handle I3 overlies the depressed portion of the casing. If it is desired to lift the cleaner, the operator may grasp handle I3 by inserting his fingers in the depressed portion 13. Channel member 13 is extended over handle 13 and conceals it from view.

bolts I3 shown in Fig. 13. Ring 11 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending lugs 13 formed with apertures which receive resilient pins 33. Theends of pins 33 are'received in corresponding lugs 33 formed on the housing of the electric motor 34. Resilient washers 33 may be placed around pins 33 between lugs I3 and 33.

within ring 11 may be employed. c

To the forward end of motor shaft 36 is secured illustrated two such rotors are shown. These rotors are contained within fan housing 33 which is provided with an intermediate The rear end of-housing I3 is secured to the motor ring 11, as by being bolted thereto by,

. '70 one or more fan rotors 31. .In the embodiment A filter housing 80 engages a groove in ring I1 and is secured in place by being bolted to motor 04, and surrounds the rear end of the motor. A perforated wall 80 is secured within housing 80 and filter cloth 83 may be supported on one or both sides of wall 90. The rear wall of housing is provided with a threaded outlet connection I which is adapted to receive hose 28 when it is desired to use the device for blowing purposes.

Y A rear housing or cup-shaped member II is secured to casing III by means of a centrally located spring fastener 00 mounted ;in a depression III in the top of housing 05, and by preferably two pivoted latches 01 at the bottom. Spring fastener 00 includes an arm 9i which may be pivoted to a more or less vertical position in order to move catch 92 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, to release the latter from engagement with a projection II! on casing I0. Latches 91 are shown more in detail in Figs. 13 and 14 and comprise an arm 08 pivoted to casing I0 at 99 and formed with a notch I00 extending infrom one side thereof. Notch I I0 is adapted to engage a headed pin Ill securedtorear housing 95. The sides and back of housing 98 are formed with a-plurality of louver openings I 04. Housing 95 is formed to give the appearance of louvers extending completely around both sides and the rear thereof, but openings I04 obviously have to be interrupted in order to provide connecting pieces of material I05. The louver appearance may also be continued for any desired distance along the sides of casing III as is shown at I00.

However, no openings are here provided.

Housing 95 is provided with an opening I01 in alignment with connection member '94. This opening may be closed by a hinged cover member I08, provided with a resilient arm I09 which.

engages a catch H0.

a Channel members H3 may be securedto the bottom of easing I0 adjacent each side thereof so as to provide supporting runners for the vacuum cleaner. Wedge-shaped runners III may be secured to the bottom of housing 95. An electric switch [I0 may be suitably mounted within .a switch housing Ill secured to casing I0 just behind handle 1 8, and is provided with amanipuiating member H8 extending through openings formed in housing I II and member Y3, the latter extending over the housing. Contact prongs III are supported by ring I1 and an electric plug I02 may be attached thereto. when in position, plug I02 more or less conceals spring fas-' tener 06 and prevents arm 9| from being, 'accidentally pivoted to release catch 02. I

With the parts in the position shown in Rigs.

1 and 4, the operationv of the vacuum cleaner is as follows:

Rotation of fan rotors 01 by motor 84 causes air to be exhausted from the space within casing II around dust bag 30. This causes air to.

be drawn in through cleaning tool 26, hose 25, member 28, and into the space within inner cover 45. This air then passes into the open mouth of dust bag 10 and through the material of the dust bag. If tool "is passed over'a dusty surface, dust is entrained in this air streamv and is deposited within the dust bag. The air passes through the fan in the directions indicated by the arrows and passes through and around motor 84,

thereby cooling the latter. The air then passes through the filter cloth 93, which serves to remove bacteria and very fine particles of dust which may have passed through the material of dust bag 36. The air is then discharged through outlet 04 into the space between filter housing ltand rear housing OI, cover-member I 08 being closed. This air escapes in a plurality of low velocity streams through the louver openings I04.

The dust bag 36 oifers resistance'to the flow of air therethrough and the presence of dust in the bag increases this resistance. As the resistance to flow increases due to the tlonof dirt within the bag, the increased pressure difference inside and outside the bag causes the bag to exert a greater force against pivoted member 59. Member I0 is thereby caused to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction against the action of spring 64, and this movement is translated through arm 01 and rack 00 to pinion 60, which is caused to rotale in a clockwise direction. This rotation causes the cylinder visible through window 10 to rotate and, when sufilcient -dirt has been collected within the dust bag to require its being emptied, the cylinder has been turned sufiiciently so that a legend or a distinctive color comes into sight through window 10 and indicates to the operator that the bag should be emptied.

In order to remove bag 36 for the purpose of emptying it, it is only necessary to pivot cover I0 to the position shown inFig. 9. This in no manner interferes with the connection of hose to the inlet, and the bag may be removed without disconnecting the hose. When cover It is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 9, inner cover member moves with it, and rim 31 is exposed and may be grasped to remove the dust bag. Due to the fact thatthe mouth of the bag is retained in an inclined position, there will be no tendency for dirt to fall out when the cover 40 is removed. After the bag has been emptied, it may be reinserted by placing it in the opening 34 and, if the fan is started, the fiow' of air draws the bag into its proper position.

The hose may be used to pull the cleaner unit about the floor, but as aforesaid, this imposes no strain on the cover for the dust bag opening and accumulabeing pulled, even if it comes in contact with a low obstruction. v

If it is desired to employ-the device for blow.- ing purposes, hose 2! may be unscrewedfrom threaded opening 24, cover member I08 at the rear of the cleaner may be opened, and the hose screwed into outlet 00. Under these conditions allthe air discharged from the fan will be forced to pass through the hose, inasmuch as the presence of the-hose in outlet 04 prevents the flow of air into the space between housings 89 and 95.

In order to renew filter cloth 93, it is only necessary to remove rear housing member 95 by unfastening clips 00 and 01, whereupon the bolt, or nut thereon, securing filter housing 89 to the rear of the motor may be unscrewed and the filter housing and perforated wall 90 removed. Thereupon wall structure 90 may be removed from within housing as and the filter cloth replaced and the parts reassembled.

While one more or less specific embodiment of the invention has been described, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be gauged by the appended claims when viewed in the light of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

-1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open I mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a cover member for securing the open end of said bag in said opening and for covering said opening, said casing being formed with an air inlet opening, and means for conveying air from said inlet opening to the open mouth of said bag.

2.- In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening ad-' iacent to said dust bag 'opening, and a member for holding the open end of said dustbag in said dust bag opening and covering both said dust bag opening and said inner opening and being formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open mouth of said dust bag.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening adjacent to said dust bag opening, and a swingably mounted member for holding the open end of said dust bag in said dust bag opening and for covering both said dust bag opening and said inner opening and formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open I mouth of said dust bag.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening in the same plane with said dust bag opening, and a resiliently mounted member for covering both said dust bag opening and said inner opening and formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open mouth of said dust has.-

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casingformed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening in the same plane with said dust bag opening, and

duit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening in the same plane with said dust bag opening, and a member for holding the open end of said dust bag in said dust bag opening and covering both said dust bag opening and said inner opening and being formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open mouth of said dust bag,

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a dust bag opening, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner opening adjacent to said dust bag opening, an outer cover member movably secured to said casing, and an inner cover member resiliently supported from said outer cover member so as to seal said dust bag opening and said inner opening, said inner cover member being formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open mouth of said dust bag.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with a. dust bag opening in an inclined plane, a dust bag having an open mouth, said bag being insertable into the casing through said opening, a conduit having an opening outside said casing and an inner-opening in the same plane with said dust bag opening, an outer cover member movably secured to said casing, and an inner cover member resiliently supported from said outer cover member so as to seal said dust bag opening and said inner opening, said inner cover member being formed with a passage for conducting air from said conduit to the open mouth of said dust bag.

9. Ina vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an nlet opening adjacent to one end thereof, said casing being formed with horizontally extending outlet louver openings in the side thereof adjacent to the other end, the lower part of said casing adjacent to said louver openings being imperiorate and means for producing flow'of air through said casing.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing formed with an inlet openingadjacent to one end thereof, said cas'ng being formed with horizontally extending outlet louver openings in the other end thereof and in the sides thereof adjacent to said other end, and means for producing flow of air through said casing.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means for producing fiowof air through said casing, a hollow member secured in said casing in the path of flow of air therethrough, said member having perforated inclined diverging walls, and filter material supported on said walls, ,said member being so positioned in said casing that the air flows through the perforated walls in a direction from the interior of said member to the exterior thereof.

12. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means for producing flow of air through said casing, a hollow member secured in said casing in the path of flow of air therethrough, said member having perforated inclined diverg'ng walls, and filter material supported on both sides of said walls,

said member being so positioned in said casing that the air flows through the perforated walls in a direction from the interior of said member to the exterior thereof.

13. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an inlet opening, said casing being formed with louver openings at one'end thereof, a housing within said casing defining with said casing a space with which said louver openings communicate, said housing formed with an outlet opening therethrough communicating with said space, said casing formed with an opening in alignment with said outlet opening and communicating with said space, means for closing the last mentionedppening, and a conduit adapted to be ireely inserted through said last mentioned opening and engageable in substantially airtight relation with said outlet opening.

EUGENE L. SCHELLENS. 

